Ice composite body and process for the construction thereof

Abstract

An ice composite body ( 10 ) has an inner ice core ( 11 ) and a protective outer armour shell ( 12 ). The outer armour shell ( 12 ) consists of a base section ( 13 ), side sections ( 14 ) and a separate top section ( 15 ), which is free to move vertically between the side sections ( 14 ). The inner ice core ( 11 ) is maintained in a frozen condition in use by refrigeration pipes ( 21 ), which are located at various levels therethrough. The inner ice core ( 11 ) is built up from thin layers of ice which are frozen one after the other. Following the freezing of each layer of ice the layer is rolled using a roller apparatus which provides a roller pressure in the range of 3.5 to 8 Newtons/mm 2 . The ice composite body ( 10 ) can be used in warm or cool waters for applications such as bridges, breakwaters, causeways, pontoons, artificial islands, dams, tidal barrages, wave power barrages, harbour walls, wind power farms or aircraft runways.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An ice composite body for use in the construction of fixed or floating structures located in or on water, the body comprising an inner ice constrained core, a protective outer armour shell having side sections and a separate top section, the top section resting freely between the side sections on the ice core in use and being free to move vertically in use, such that any load acting on the top section will be evenly distributed through the body, means for thermally insulating the ice core and means for maintaining the ice core in a frozen condition in use. 
     
     
       2. An ice composite body according to  claim 1 , wherein the protective outer armour shell has an inner wall and an outer wall with a space therebetween, the space providing the means for thermally insulating the ice core. 
     
     
       3. An ice composite body according to  claim 1 , wherein the space is filled with foam insulating material. 
     
     
       4. An ice composite body according to  claim 1 , wherein strengthening ribs are located at intervals between the inner and outer walls. 
     
     
       5. An ice composite body according to  claim 1 , wherein the protective outer armour shell has a base section, side sections, and the top section is located between the side sections and is free to move therebetween. 
     
     
       6. An ice composite body according to  claim 5 , wherein one of the side sections further comprises a separate closure section removably located on the upper edge thereof, the closure section being located on the side section in use once the top section is in position. 
     
     
       7. An ice composite body according to  claim 5 , wherein the space between the top section and the side sections contains a filler material, which prevents any of the core ice from entering the space in use. 
     
     
       8. An ice composite body according to  claim 7 , wherein the filler material is an elastomer or an elastomer-modified bitumen. 
     
     
       9. An ice composite body according to  claim 7 , wherein a stuffing gasket is located at the upper end of the space between the top section and the side sections to limit the loss of filler therefrom. 
     
     
       10. An ice composite body according to  claim 7 , further comprising means for replacing any filler lost from the space. 
     
     
       11. An ice composite body according to  claim 1 , wherein the protective outer armour layer is made of concrete material. 
     
     
       12. An ice composite body according to  claim 1 , wherein the inner ice core is formed in layers, each layer having been rolled using a roller apparatus which provides a roller pressure in the range of 3.5 to 8 Newtons/mm 2  following formation thereof. 
     
     
       13. An ice composite body according to  claim 1 , wherein the means for maintaining the ice core in a frozen condition in use is a plurality of refrigeration pipes passing through the ice core, the refrigeration pipes being connected to a refrigeration unit. 
     
     
       14. An ice composite body according to  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of refrigeration pipes is arranged in parallel groups at various levels throughout the ice core. 
     
     
       15. An ice composite body according to  claim 14 , wherein adjacent groups of refrigeration pipes lie at an angle relative to each other. 
     
     
       16. An ice composite body according to  claim 15 , wherein adjacent groups of refrigeration pipes lie at right angles to each other. 
     
     
       17. An ice composite body according to  claim 13  wherein a parallel group of refrigeration pipes is located between each layer of ice, wherein the inner ice core is formed in layers, each layer having been rolled using a roller apparatus which provides a roller pressure in the range of 3.5 to 8 Newtons/mm 2  following formation thereof. 
     
     
       18. An ice composite body according to  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of refrigeration pipes includes a set of parallel pipes along the inner wall of each side section. 
     
     
       19. An ice composite body according to  claim 13 , wherein the refrigeration unit is located within the space between the inner and outer walls of the protective armour shell. 
     
     
       20. An ice composite body according to  claim 13 , wherein each refrigerant pipe passes through opposing inner walls of the side sections of the protective armour layer and is secured within the space between the inner and outer walls. 
     
     
       21. An ice composite body according to  claim 13 , wherein the temperature of individual refrigerant pipes can be controlled independently. 
     
     
       22. An ice composite body according to  claim 13 , wherein an individual refrigerant pipe can be removed from the ice core for repair or replacement. 
     
     
       23. An ice composite body according to  claim 13 , having means for utilizing any waste heat generated by the refrigeration unit for heating any buildings located on the ice composite body. 
     
     
       24. An ice composite body according to  claim 13 , having a backup refrigeration unit. 
     
     
       25. An ice composite body according to  claim 24 , wherein the backup refrigeration unit can be used to cool any buildings located on the ice composite body. 
     
     
       26. An ice composite body according to  claim 1 , wherein the ice core is formed from degassed or deionised water. 
     
     
       27. An ice composite body according to  claim 1 , further comprising a set of supporting piles, each pile being adapted for fixing to a waterbed at one end thereof, the other end being accommodated in cells constructed within the protective outer shell, the body being free to move in a vertical direction relative to the piles, in response to changing water levels or buoyancy of the body but not horizontally. 
     
     
       28. A process for the construction of an ice composite body according to  claim 1 , comprising the steps of constructing a protective outer armour shell having a base section and side sections, building up an inner ice core within the protective armour shell by successively freezing sufficient amounts of water to form layers of ice, rolling each successive layer of ice with a rolling apparatus to provide a roller pressure in the range of 3.5 to 8 Newtons/mm 2 , locating a plurality of refrigeration pipes within the body during the ice forming stage, and locating a separate top section of the protective outer armour shell on the top of the completed inner ice core and between the side sections, such that the top section is free to move vertically. 
     
     
       29. A process according to  claim 28 , wherein the protective outer armour layer is constructed in the form of an inner wall and an outer wall with a space therebetween. 
     
     
       30. A process according to  claim 29 , wherein the space between the inner and outer walls in filled with an insulating material. 
     
     
       31. A process according to  claim 30 , wherein the insulating material is foam insulation. 
     
     
       32. A process according to  claim 28 , wherein as each successive amount of water is being frozen to form a layer of ice, the central section of the layer is maintained above freezing point by use of a heating means, and once the remainder of the ice layer has been formed the heating means is removed and the center portion of the ice layer is frozen. 
     
     
       33. A process according to  claim 32 , wherein the inner surface of the inner wall is coated with a flexible material prior to forming the ice core. 
     
     
       34. A process according to  claim 32 , wherein the flexible material is bitumen. 
     
     
       35. A process according to  claim 28 , wherein the plurality of refrigeration pipes is arranged in parallel groups at various levels throughout the ice core and wherein adjacent layers of pipes are positioned at an angle relative to each other. 
     
     
       36. A process according to  claim 35 , wherein the adjacent layers of refrigeration pipes are positioned at right angles to each other. 
     
     
       37. A process according  claim 35 , wherein a group of refrigeration pipes is located between each layer of ice. 
     
     
       38. A process according to  claim 28 , wherein a filler material is added to the space between the top section and the side sections. 
     
     
       39. A process according to  claim 38 , wherein a stuffing gasket is located at the upper end of the space between the top section and the side sections. 
     
     
       40. A process according to  claim 28 , wherein the top section is located on top of the inner core by immersing a partially completed body in water and floating the top section into position on the ice core. 
     
     
       41. A process according to  claim 40 , wherein the top section is floated over a side section of the armour shell, having first removed an upper edge thereof, the upper edge being placed in position once again followed correct location of the top section of the ice core. 
     
     
       42. An ice composite body according to  claim 2 , wherein the space is filled with foam insulating material. 
     
     
       43. An ice composite body according to  claim 6 , wherein the space between the top section and the side sections contains a filler material, which prevents any of the core ice from entering the space in use. 
     
     
       44. An ice composite body according to  claim 8 , wherein a to stuffing gasket is located at the upper end of the space between the top section and the side sections to limit the loss of filler therefrom. 
     
     
       45. A process according  claim 36 , wherein a group of refrigeration pipes is located between each layer of ice.